It hits you out of nowhere. You’re scrolling through TikTok or Reels, and suddenly this delicate, almost fragile acoustic guitar melody starts drifting through your speakers. Then comes that voice. It's breathy. It’s raw. It sounds like someone recording a secret in their bedroom at 3 AM because they can't sleep. That song is Someday I’ll Get It by Alek Olsen, and honestly, it has become the unofficial anthem for anyone feeling like they’re stuck in a loop of "not quite enough."
Music doesn't always need a massive production budget to go viral.
Sometimes, all it takes is a guy and a guitar. Alek Olsen proved that. The track has racked up hundreds of millions of streams, but it didn't happen because of a massive PR machine. It happened because the song feels like a sigh. It’s short. It’s barely two minutes long. Yet, in those 120 seconds, it manages to pin down a very specific type of modern melancholy that most of us are too tired to put into words ourselves.
The Viral Architecture of Someday I’ll Get It
Why this song? Why now?
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If you look at the "Sad Indie" or "Slowcore" genres, they’re usually pretty niche. But Someday I’ll Get It broke through the noise. A huge part of that is the sheer intimacy of the recording. You can hear the fingers sliding on the guitar strings. It’s imperfect. In a world of Autotune and over-produced pop, that grit feels honest. People crave honesty.
The song’s lifecycle on social media is a case study in organic growth. Creators started using the audio for "core" videos—nostalgic montages, "point of view" clips about loneliness, or just shots of rainy windows. It’s the kind of music that makes you feel like the protagonist in a movie where nothing happens, but everything feels heavy.
Alek Olsen isn't just a TikTok fluke, though. While the platform gave him the springboard, the staying power of the track comes from the songwriting. The lyrics are sparse. They don't over-explain. When he sings about the struggle of understanding oneself or waiting for a moment of clarity that never seems to arrive, he’s tapping into a universal anxiety. We are all waiting for that "someday."
Breaking Down the Sound
The technical side of the song is surprisingly simple, which is its greatest strength. It’s built on a descending chord progression that feels like it’s physically pulling the listener down into a mood.
- The Vocal Style: It’s almost whispered. This forces the listener to lean in. It creates an immediate sense of proximity, as if Olsen is sitting right next to you.
- The Tempo: It’s slow. Not "ballad" slow, but "walking home alone in the dark" slow.
- The Lo-fi Aesthetic: There’s a warmth to the track that suggests it wasn't made in a sterile studio environment. This "bedroom pop" vibe is essential to its identity.
What People Get Wrong About the Meaning
A lot of people hear Someday I’ll Get It and think it’s just a breakup song. That’s a bit of a surface-level take. If you really sit with the lyrics, it feels more like a song about dissociation or the internal struggle with mental health. It’s about the gap between who you are and who you feel like you should be.
The phrase "I’ll get it" isn't necessarily about winning a prize or getting the girl. It’s about comprehension. It’s about that "aha!" moment where life finally makes sense, or where you finally feel comfortable in your own skin. The tragedy of the song is the word "someday." It implies a future that hasn't arrived yet and might never come. It’s hopeful and devastating at the same time.
I’ve seen people interpret the song through the lens of grief, while others see it as a reflection on burnt-out ambition. That’s the beauty of minimalist writing. By saying less, Olsen allows the listener to fill in the blanks with their own baggage.
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The Alek Olsen Effect
Olsen belongs to a wave of artists like Duster, Sign Crushes Motorist, or even early Elliott Smith. These are musicians who prioritize vibe over virtuosity. They aren't trying to show off their vocal range. They’re trying to capture a texture.
What’s interesting about Olsen’s rise is how quiet it’s been. You don't see him doing flashy late-night talk show circuits or massive brand collaborations. He seems to exist in the same space as his music: understated, slightly shadowed, and focused on the art. This authenticity is exactly why his fanbase is so fiercely loyal. They don't feel like they're being sold a product; they feel like they’ve found a kindred spirit.
The Impact on the "Sad Girl" and "Sad Boy" Aesthetic
We have to talk about the aesthetic. Someday I’ll Get It has become a pillar of a specific online subculture that romanticizes sadness. Sometimes this is criticized—people say it’s "glorifying" depression.
I disagree.
I think it’s more about validation. When you’re feeling low, listening to an upbeat "happy" song feels like a slap in the face. It feels fake. Listening to something like Olsen’s work provides a space where it’s okay to not be okay. It’s communal. You look at the comment sections on YouTube or SoundCloud for this track, and they’re filled with people sharing their own stories.
"This song feels like the hug I never got."
That’s a real sentiment shared by thousands. The song acts as a digital campfire where people gather to realize they aren't the only ones feeling lost.
Is It "Slowcore"?
Purists might argue about the genre, but Someday I’ll Get It definitely leans into slowcore territory. Slowcore is characterized by slowed-down tempos, minimalist arrangements, and often depressing lyrics. Think of bands like Low or Codeine.
Olsen brings a more modern, singer-songwriter tilt to it. It’s more accessible than traditional slowcore, which can sometimes be dissonant or experimental. He keeps the melody front and center. You can hum along to it, even if you’re crying while you do it.
Why the Song Stays in Your Head
Ever wonder why certain songs just won't leave your brain? It’s often due to "melodic tension." In Someday I’ll Get It, the melody never quite feels like it reaches a final destination. It loops. It circles back on itself.
This mirrors the lyrical theme of being stuck. Because the music doesn't provide a "resolution"—that big, triumphant final chord—your brain stays engaged, looking for the ending. But the ending doesn't come. The song just fades out, leaving you wanting to hit the repeat button just to see if you can find the closure this time around. It’s brilliant, even if it was accidental.
Lessons from the Success of Someday I’ll Get It
For aspiring musicians or creators, there is a lot to learn here. You don't need a 24-track recording setup. You don't need to be a guitar god.
- Vulnerability is Currency: People can smell "manufactured" emotion from a mile away. The reason this song worked is that it feels private.
- Short is Sweet: In the age of short-form video, a song that gets to the point quickly is more likely to be shared.
- Space Matters: Don't fill every second with sound. The silences in Olsen's track are just as important as the notes.
Where to Go From Here
If you’ve discovered Someday I’ll Get It and you’re looking for more, don't just stick to the radio edits. Check out the rest of Alek Olsen’s catalog. He has a way of maintaining this mood across his projects without it feeling repetitive.
Listen to it on a good pair of headphones. Turn off the lights. Let the song do what it was meant to do. It’s not just background noise for a TikTok; it’s a genuine piece of art that captures what it means to be human and a little bit confused in the 2020s.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to dive deeper into this sound or support the artist, here is how you should actually engage with the music:
- Support the Source: Stream the song on platforms like Bandcamp or Spotify where the artist actually sees the metrics.
- Explore the Genre: Look into "Bedroom Pop" and "Slowcore" playlists to find artists like Salvia Palth or Fog Lake who operate in a similar emotional space.
- Create Honestly: If you’re a creator, use the music to tell a real story. The trend has moved past "aesthetic" shots—people want to see real vulnerability.
- Check the Lyrics: Read the full lyrics of Olsen’s EP. You’ll find recurring themes that make the experience of the single much richer.
The hype might fade, as all internet trends do, but the feeling of the song won't. Someday I’ll Get It is a reminder that even when we feel like we’re falling behind, there’s a certain beauty in the waiting.